The following is a statement from Angela Huffman, Co-Founder and Vice President of Farm Action.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – “We’re excited to welcome and congratulate the 118th Congress on their swearing in. This year is a huge year for farmers, ranchers, rural communities, food system workers, policymakers, advocates, and anyone who eats, because the Farm Bill is up for reauthorization.”
“This Farm Bill presents a critical chance to fundamentally change U.S. agricultural policies and food systems, and we’re hopeful that the new Congress will join us in making that a reality.”
“To kick off our advocacy efforts around the Farm Bill, Farm Action and a large coalition of partners are convening in Washington, D.C. from February 7-8 for the inaugural Food Not Feed Summit. Our coalition of farmers, health, faith, environment, labor, and animal advocates will highlight the national security crisis we face as we are now importing more food than we export. The focus of the summit is to shift U.S. agricultural policy to Food Not Feed, which would prioritize putting healthy food on our neighbors’ tables over growing corn and soybeans to feed corporate-controlled livestock and poultry all over the world.”
“The USDA recommends that Americans fill their plates with 50 percent fruits and vegetables. Yet, in 2019, only four percent of farm subsidies went to their production. Instead, a disproportionate amount of agricultural subsidies are directed toward commodity feed crops, with monopoly meatpackers standing by to snatch up lower-cost feed. This underscores the need for change within U.S. food systems.”
“This new Congress has a chance to implement bipartisan reforms that will benefit farmers, ranchers, rural communities, food system workers, and, really, anyone who eats, and Farm Action is ready to work with them to do so.”
Media Contact: Dee Laninga, dlaninga@farmaction.us, 202-450-0094
